Ovechkin scores 908th NHL goal, Capitals edge Jets

WASHINGTON -- Alex Ovechkin scored his 908th NHL goal in the Washington Capitals’ 4-3 win against the Winnipeg Jets on Wednesday.

The NHL’s all-time leading goal-scorer was honored in a pregame ceremony for reaching 900 goals and playing 1,500 NHL games, He gave the Capitals a 3-2 lead at 5:22 of the second period when he got to a rolling puck at the point, turned around and floated a wrist shot past Jets goalie Eric Comrie for his eighth goal in his past nine games.

“What a special ceremony it was and for him to score is just … you could’ve called that for sure,” Washington coach Spencer Carbery said. “Those things happen. He always finds ways to have an impact on the game when it’s a big night or important moment and tonight was no different.”

Jakob Chychrun extended his goal streak to four games (five goals) for the Capitals (13-9-2), who have won five of six after losing eight of 10 (2-6-2). Charlie Lindgren made 18 saves.

“We’re figuring out who we are,” Lindgren said. “At the start of the year, it felt like we were back and forth trying to figure out … wins were maybe a little tougher to come by but now we’re playing with more consistency, and it’s been fun to watch us.”

Gabriel Vilardi scored twice, and Kyle Connor had three assists for the Jets (12-10-0), who have lost three straight and seven of 10 (3-7-0). Comrie made 30 saves.

“We’re in a funk right now and we’ve got to find ways,” Jets coach Scott Arniel said. “We’re doing a lot of good things. Our mistakes, if they happen, are going in our net but we battled right to the end.”

John Carlson gave the Capitals a 1-0 lead at 6:38 of the first period, scoring on a one-timer from the high slot off a pass from Tom Wilson.

Chychrun made it 2-0 at 14:21 when his snap shot from the point went off the crossbar and in. The defenseman has 12 points (six goals, six assists) on a nine-game point streak.

Vilardi pulled the Jets within 2-1 at 19:38. Carlson’s pass from behind the Washington net was intercepted by Connor, who fed in front to Vilardi for the tip-in.

Vilardi tied it 2-2 when he tipped Josh Morrissey's shot past Lindgren during a power play at 1:24 of the second period.

“No one’s quitting here,” Vilardi said. “We’re going to keep showing up, keep playing. [I] think we’ve made progressions in our game, but it is a results driven business and we need to start winning.”

After Ovechkin gave the Capitals the lead, Connor McMichael made 4-2 at 5:25 of the third period. Winnipeg’s Elias Salomonsson couldn’t control a pass at the Capitals blue line and McMichael scored on a breakaway, deking past Comrie and sliding a backhand shot home.

“I just saw the ‘D’ bobble it and then the opportunity just kind of presented itself for a breakaway,” McMichael said. “I think I was just coming in with so much speed I was able to beat him to that back post and, thankfully, I was able to put it in.”

Mark Scheifele pulled the Jets within 4-3 at 15:11. Dylan DeMelo’s shot deflected off Connor in front and Scheifele popped the loose puck past Lindgren.

"Obviously, [Scheifele’s] line did it again tonight and we need other people to step up,” Arniel said of the Connor-Scheifele-Vilardi trio. “It’s not about being pretty now. I don’t care how it goes in, off your head, off your leg, however it might be. Rebounds, deflections whatever.”

NOTES: Ovechkin passed Steve Yzerman (1,514) for the seventh-most games played with one franchise in NHL history. … Ovechkin tied Gordie Howe (348) for the most home games with a goal in NHL history. … Ovechkin’s nine goals this month are tied with Howe (nine in March 1969) for the third most in a single calendar month by a player age 40 or older in NHL history behind Johnny Bucyk (10 in January 1976) and Howe (11 in February 1969). … McMichael has eight points (two goals, six assists) in his past seven games. … The Capitals have a 13-game home point streak (12-0-1) against the Jets dating to April 23, 2013. … Vilardi has 100 goals in 292 NHL games. … Salomonsson played 16:18 and was minus-2 in his NHL debut.